Shanghai (China), yesterday Dream Team IV head coach Samson Siasia yesterday in Shanghai said his substitutions worked perfectly for a brilliant second half display that gave Nigeria a 4-1 victory over Belgium.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian team won the semi-final match at the Shanghai Stadium in dominant fashion with a commanding second half display.
The first semi-final match of the 29th Olympic Games men’s football event saw the Dream Team exploding with three goals in the second half, with the three substitutes igniting play.
“The substitutions were okay. It was unbelievable. You just have to look at the scoreboard to understand this.
“First half play was like 50-50, despite our lead.
But the second half play was astounding and I believe the substitutions did the magic,’’ he told NAN.
In the match, the team’s technical crew led by Siasia replaced Ebenezer Ajilore, Solomon Okoronkwo and Chinedu Obasi with Emmanuel Ekpo, Victor Anichebe and Promise Isaac in the 46th, 57th and 73rd minutes respectively.
Though Anichebe missed two good scoring chances, he had set up Obasi for the second goal, while Ekpo and Isaac could have scored from half chances.
The former Super Eagles assistant coach, assured Nigerians that his team would go for the gold medal in Saturday’s final against Argentina who beat Brazil 3-0 in the other semi-final.
“We are going for the gold (medal), by the Grace of God. Let Nigerians back home know that,’’ he said.
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